Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Abuja Federal High Court to ignore the subpoena ordering him to appear in court as a witness to testify in defence of ex-PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh.
In the alternative, Jonathan sought an order directing Metuh to deposit with the court for and on his behalf the sum of N1bn to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel from his home town, Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, to Abuja.
An affidavit filed in support of the motion read:
“That he (Jonathan) as the then President of the Federal Republic (2010-2015), appointed ministers and different persons to carry out the day-to-day running of the government activities and such appointees are those who directly related with the President and not third parties, such as the 2nd respondent.
“That he (Jonathan) knows nothing about the seven charges for which the 1st defendant/ 2nd respondent is standing trial before this court and has absolutely nothing to testify about before this court.
“The he, as a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the event that this honourable court refuses prayer one on the motion paper, shall require the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (one billion naira) only, to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel, from his home town Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, to Abuja, and also for logistics, and provision of tight security to cover any period of time that he might spend appearing before this court as President of Nigeria between 2010 and 2015.
Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are on trial for allegedly receiving N400m fraudulently from the NSA office and on charges involving the $2m arms deal.
